Abuja, Nigeria, Sep 4, 2009 / 01:26 am
Despite extremist Muslim opposition, a leading Catholic charity is helping the Church’s mission to indigenous peoples in northwestern Nigeria. Mission programs include literacy classes, well digging, basic health care and education for tribes in the region.
Reports from Kontagora, in Niger state, indicate that militant Muslims have tried to stop new churches from being built and have knocked them down during the night, the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reports. The state of Niger also recently adopted Shari'a law, even though the region is made up of equal numbers of Christians and Muslims.
ACN has announced it will be giving over $190,000 over three years to help support the missions.
Bishop Timothy Carroll, the Apostolic Vicar of Kontagora, expressed “deep gratitude” to ACN and its donors, saying that without the charity's help the missions could not survive.
Local people are increasingly leaving tribal religions, he reported.